It's my own deep-rooted feeling that our souls never truly die, and that life continues in some way. I know I need to have patience as my beliefs continue to evolve with my personal growth. As I've looked around at the things I do have in my life, I've gradually started to trust in life again, little by little. I think, "How could all of these other amazing things come into my life if there was not something larger than me?

— Elizabeth Berrien

I used to feel afraid of the future, always assuming the worst. But now I've realized that my worst fears have already happened, and I've survived them! I've walked into the fire and made it out alive. Only the loss of a close loved one could have "woken me up" to reality in the same way.

— Elizabeth Berrien

I would still rather feel things and live life to the fullest rather than hide in a cave and attempt to protect myself from the uncertainties of the world.

— Elizabeth Berrien

Journeying through grief is one of the most "normal human" experiences you can have. Nevertheless, all too frequently the heartbroken seem to feel alienated by society. Unfortunately in our culture, we are taught to hold our feelings in. If someone asks us, "How are you doing today?" the expected answer is, "I'm okay." But what if you aren't okay? You obviously don't want to go into a monologue of why you're not okay, but sometimes you feel as if you're going to explode if you can't "tell off" that well-meaning person for even daring to ask you such a thing in the first place!

— Elizabeth Berrien

Learning to live again wholeheartedly includes letting love flow freely in and out of your heart.

— Elizabeth Berrien

Mothering while grieving should involve being understanding and keeping a gentle attitude toward yourself as you work to balance your own needs and your child's. You become stronger by remaining aware of your own well-being, which in turn makes you a stronger person for your child or children.

— Elizabeth Berrien

Once you have walked down the grief path, what you have gained on your journey may turn into invaluable advice for someone else.

— Elizabeth Berrien

Remember to view yourself and your humanness with a kind heart.

— Elizabeth Berrien

Some of the choices you make might not always turn out to be the best ones, but at least you are learning as you go.

— Elizabeth Berrien

The intense roller coaster of emotions will gradually lesson over time. But there is no timeframe for the grieving process, and it will not be rushed, no matter how fast you'd like to "get over it." The reality is that there is no getting over it; you can only walk through it.

— Elizabeth Berrien